In this edition of Tatler’s Secrets of Success series—the all-access pass to the city’s most notable business magnates and entrepreneurs—Norma Chu reveals the centuries-old philosophies she lives her life by, and how she’s making cooking fun and accessible for future generations
Norma Chu has a success story of epic proportions. The former head of research for HSBC Private Bank left an illustrious career in banking behind to combine her business instinct and love for cooking into DayDayCook, a food startup catering to the needs of Gen Z consumers through sharing recipes, meal plans, cooking classes and ready-made food. Chu started DayDayCook in 2012 as a food blog before growing it to the e-commerce platform it is today.
After expanding to Shanghai in 2015, DayDayCook has become the largest cooking and lifestyle content platform in China, and Chu has raised over US$80 million funding for DayDayCook from investors, including Henderson Land Development, The Hong Kong & China Gas Company, Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund and K11 Investment. In August last year, Chu announced that DayDayCook would merge with Ace Global Business Acquisition which would result in DayDayCook becoming a publicly listed company.
Today, Chu, born and raised in Hong Kong, is a decorated entrepreneur and is making time for the things that matter. Chu co-founded Founders HK, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organisation whose mission is to build Hong Kong as the next tech hub of the world. Chu is also the founder of Good Food Movement, a charitable organisation that provides inspiration for healthy food sources.
Read all about the habits that make her highly successful in the latest in the Secrets of Success series:
Describe what you do in one sentence.
We provide a better lifestyle for future generations through a wide range of delicious products with affordable, accessible, and nutritious choices.
How does your business make a difference?
We make cooking fun and accessible to Gen Z and future generations by keeping cooking a part of our culture and creating a quality lifestyle.
What do you put your success down to?
Creating value and find happiness while doing it.
What are the top three ingredients for a successful business?
a) Having a creative vision
b) Building a tough mindset
c) Ensuring a strong execution
Do you have any mentors? If so, who are they and what is the best piece of advice they have given you?
Stoic thinkers. The Obstacle Is The Way—The Ancient Art Of Turning Adversity To Advantage by author Ryan Holiday has taught me that what stands in the way becomes the way.